The public consultation for the review of the UK Government’s Timber Procurement Policy is open for comments until 30 March, 2025.
Efeca has been contracted by Defra to undertake an assessment of three certification schemes – Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and Grown in Britain – against the requirements of the UK Government’s Timber Procurement Policy (TPP). This assessment will take place according to the Criteria for Evaluating Category A Evidence, which have been updated to revise outdated references to the EUTR, for example. The definition of legal and sustainable has also been updated.
All stakeholders are invited to submit evidence of non-compliance, which could relate to:
- Failure by a scheme’s documented requirements to meet one of the criteria set out in Criteria for Evaluating Forest Certification Schemes (Category A Evidence) 5th edition, February 2025
- Failure by a scheme to implement its own documented requirements. Please note that it is expected that the schemes’ official complaints procedures have been followed where appropriate.
All evidence submitted will be checked as set out in the Methodology for reviews of timber certification schemes (Cat A evidence).
Comments referring to the actual outcome of certification in the forest cannot be considered, and comments must be supported by objective, verifiable evidence. If further information or clarification is required, the party that submitted the comment may be contacted, particularly where there are discrepancies between information received from stakeholders and from schemes.
Comments can be submitted using the online survey here, with more information online on the gov.uk call for evidence page.
